Music Makers Encyclopedia: D

Click on a letter to choose a recording act (“S” for Bruce Springsteen, “B” for Beatles, etc.). Shown with the act are its major awards (see more here), short bios for select acts (generally taken or adapted from Joel Whitburn’s Pop Memories 1890-1954 and Top Pop Singles: Billboard books), and links to all albums reviewed here at the DMDB.

Mack David

Dave Davies

Benny Davis

Song(s):

American record producer and executive. President of Columbia Records from 1967-72. Founder/president of Arista Records from the late 1970s to 2000. Founder of J Records. Chairman and CEO of RCA Music Group from 2003-08.

Innovative jazz trumpeter who influenced the jazz fusion movement. (Billy Eckstine’s Orchestra: 44; Six Brown Cats: 44; with Charlie Parker: 45-46 and Coleman Hawkins; own quintet: 55-). Band members in his quintet included Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. Married to actress Cicely Tyson from 1981-88.

Born: 5/26/1926 in Alton, IL Died: 9/28/1991 of a stroke and pneumonia

Album(s):

Pop/soft rock singer/songwriter. His real name is Neil Diamond, however he considered changing his name to Noah Kaminsky early in his career. Worked as songplugger/staff writer in NYC; also wrote under pseudonym Mark Lewis. First record for Duel in 1961. Wrote for the Monkees TV show. Wrote score for the movie Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Starred in and composed the music for The Jazz Singer in 1980.

Lonnie Donegan

Song(s):

Gaetano Donizetti

Scottish folk-rock singer/songwriter and guitarist (“Mellow Yellow”, “Catch the Wind”). The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame says his song “Sunshine Superman” single handedly ignited the psychedelic revolution.

Song(s):

Used his vast skills as alto-saxophonist and clarinetist with a multitude of bands during the late ‘20s and early ‘30s. He and his brother Tommy played with the California Ramblers, Charleston Chasers, Jean Goldkette, Red Nichols, and Paul Whiteman, among others. Jimmy also recorded with Ted Lewis and Ben Selvin. When Tommy walked out on the Dorsey Brothers band in 1935, most of the members stayed with Jimmy. It was the vocals of Bob Eberly and Helen O’Connell which swept the band onto a remarkable wave of popularity in the early ‘40s.

Album(s):

Among the greatest trombonists in jazz history. He and his brother Jimmy played with the California Ramblers, Charleston Chasers, Jean Goldkette, Red Nichols, and Paul Whiteman, among others. Tommy also played with Vincent Lopez and Rudy Vallee. Started his band in 1935 with the heart of the Joe Haymes ensemble, and over the years led an extraordinary array of top musicians. The jazz arrangements of Sy Oliver were among the most acclaimed of the era, and during the early ‘40s the band got a sensational new star in Frank Sinatra.

Carl Douglas

Song(s):

Michael Douglas

Song(s):

American producer who initially wanted to be a nuclear physicist research specialist. As an Atlantic Records staff engineer and producer, he embraced technology like the use of stereo and eight-track recording machines. At Atlantic, he recorded, and occasionally produced, artists like Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and Otis Redding. Later he also helped create the sounds of the Allman Brothers Band, Cream, Dusty Springfield, Rod Stewart, Bette Midler, and Chicago.

The DMDB Blog:

Dream Theater

Album(s):

Rap singer/songwriter, producer, and record executive (Death Row Records). Started as a member of the World Class Wreckin’ Cru and became famous with gangster rap group N.W.A. before having a successful solo career.

Song(s) written by Dresser:

Dave Dreyer

Vocal group formed on Atlantic. Numerous personnel changes over the years. Six different singers have sung on top 10 R&B hits for the group. Songwriters Leiber and Stoller produced their hits from 1959-63. Many personnel changes throughout career and several groups have used the name in later years.

American singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist who works in multiple genres including blues, pop, jazz, Zydeco, boogie woogie, and rock. Worked originally as a prominent session musician but has recorded over 20 albums on his own.

Album(s):

Highly influential singer/songwriter/guitarist/harmonica player and innovator of folk-rock style. Took stage name from poet Dylan Thomas. To New York City in December 1960. Worked Greenwich Village folk clubs. Signed to Columbia Records in October 1961. Motorcycle crash on 7/29/66 led to short retirement. Newly-found Christian faith reflected in his recordings of 1979-81. Member of the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys 1988-91.

The DMDB Blog/Facebook Note(s):

Click on a letter to choose a recording act (“S” for Bruce Springsteen, “B” for Beatles, etc.). Shown with the act are its major awards (see more here), short bios for select acts (generally taken or adapted from Joel Whitburn’s Pop Memories 1890-1954 and Top Pop Singles: Billboard books), and links to all albums reviewed here at the DMDB.